06.08 Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is devotion to Jesus Christ Himself, but in the particular ways of meditating on his interior life and on His threefold love — His divine love, His burning love that fed His human will, and His sensible love that affects His interior life.

From the time of Saint John and Saint Paul there has always been in the Church something like devotion to the love of God, Who so loved the world as to give it His only-begotten Son, and to the love of Jesus, Who has so loved us as to deliver Himself up for us. But, accurately speaking, this is not the devotion to the Sacred Heart, as it pays no homage to the Heart of Jesus as the symbol of His love for us. From the earliest centuries, Christ’s open side and the mystery of blood and water were meditated upon, and the Church was beheld issuing from the side of Jesus, as Eve came forth from the side of Adam. But there is nothing to indicate that, during the first ten centuries, any worship was rendered the wounded Heart.

Litany to the Sacred HeartLord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God, the Father of Heaven, Response: have mercy on us. God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, .. God the Holy Spirit,… Holy Trinity, one God, … Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, … Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mother’s womb, … Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, … Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, … Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, … Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, … Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, … Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, … Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, … Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, … Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, … Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, … Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, … Heart of Jesus, wherein are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, … Heart of Jesus, wherein dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, … Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, … Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, … Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, … Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy, … Heart of Jesus, rich unto all who call upon You, … Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, … Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our offenses, … Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with reproaches, … Heart of Jesus, bruised for our iniquities, … Heart of Jesus, obedient even unto death, … Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, … Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, … Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, … Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, … Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, … Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, … Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, … Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints, … Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. V. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, R. Make our hearts like unto Thy Heart. Let us pray, Almighty everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy dearly beloved Son, and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of sinners and for those who seek Thy mercy. Be appeased, and grant us pardon in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee forever and ever. Amen.